This is almost like a prequel to Unraveling the Wind and Blaze. They aren't very connected so reading one before the other doesn't really matter. The entire story is in Dan's POV. Not a one-shot. This is my Christmas gift to all of you!

For the readers reading my First story, I'm sorry, but I'm at a small block, so I put this up to deepen Dan and Shun's friendship.

Most of the flashbacks are from episode 12.

Bold is Dan's thoughts

Italics are flashbacks

~~ are flashbacks within flashbacks…

DISCLAIMER: I don't own bakugan! Or Alice and Shun would be together…

Ch. 2

Autumn: It's Been Awhile

Shun and I were quiet. We both knew how painful it was right now, so nothing was said. We were best friends again, but it was still hard for him. He'd lost a lot. I could still remember talking to Drago about him, being angry at him for ditching all of us. For ditching bakugan.

"Shun? You're really letting yourself go, slipping into sixth place!"

"Dan! Is it true that he was number one before Masquerade came along and beat everyone?" Drago questioned me.

My voice was bitter, "Yeah, he ruled the game. Until he dropped the ball and never bothered to pick it up again."

"He no longer battles bakugan?" my bakugan's voice was surprised.

"Yeah." I stopped.

I kept walking alongside my best friend. "Shun?" I asked, really hesitant to talk to him.

"Yeah?" his voice was quiet and solemn.

"Why didn't you just tell them?"

Shun stuck his hands into his pockets. He hadn't bothered to grab a jacket for the cold wind that kept knocking into us, but he didn't seem to care. While I was freezing, he seemed fine. But, then again, he might've been used to temperature changes. With the amount of ninja training he told me his Grandpa made him do, I'm not really amazed. "I can't."

"Why not?" I was curious. It wasn't that hard to just tell the others that his mom had died exactly a year ago. Err… Maybe it might be a bit hard.

Shun gave me a look. One that stated, how-dense-are-you?

I smiled sheepishly, "Sorry."

We reached the top of the hill. I could see the next hill, which had Shiori Kazami's grave on it. The Sakura tree that was draped over had grown since the last time we were here. Then again, the battle had taken up a lot of our time. It had snow frosted over where its leaves would be, making it seem pure white and crystalized.

I walked a little slower, and ended up behind Shun. My eyes landed on his back. I thought back to when I was telling Drago about Shun. I had admired him, and then hated him, now we were best friends again.

"Shun and I used to be the best of friends. We did absolutely everything together. You couldn't tear us apart," I knew I was smiling right now. "And when bakugan started up, we were the ones who laid down the law, and we wrote the rules together. Shun was lead in breaking down all the moves."

I could see the memory like it was a picture in front of me.

~"Okay. How about for the wind attribute, we invent a backdraft ability to force out any opponent left standing on the battlefield? Totally blowing away the competition."

I gave him a thumbs up.~

I frowned.

"He was on a roll. But then he started pulling this disappearing act, sometimes leaving right in the middle of a jam session."

I had gotten so upset when I had recalled those moments telling Drago. I didn't really get why it was so huge to Shun.

"It was like something changed in him when his mom got put in the hospital."

What I had said was true. Something had changed in him. I don't think I'll ever see the old Shun again. The old Shun as fun, happy, and was only a little less crazy than me. I think that was the only reason he was ever able to keep up with me. Now, though he was better, he was mature, quiet, and stoic. He never showed his emotions anymore. To anyone. I understood him better than anyone else, but even I was confused by his actions sometimes. Only one person completely understood him, especially when he got stony back then. And she was gone.

"Dan."

My head jerked up, and I stopped in mid-step. "Huh?"

He shook his head, "Watch where you're going." I looked down, and I saw that I was about to trip over a small headstone. He stared at it for a while, before shaking his head and moving on. I knew who that grave belonged to. Without looking, I walked around it, murmuring a thanks. He nodded and kept moving.

We finally reached the grave we were here for.

The headstone was a gorgeous crème color, shining in the dull sunlight. It had an angel on top of the curve, her wings spread wide in its glory, pure white against black hair. Her features soft and gentle. Just like Shun's mom. She was smiling. The angel was stroking her pet, which was on her extended arm. She was caressing its feathers. It was slightly baby green phoenix. That had been my idea, to symbolize Skyress. My mom wanted to make a special grave for her, since they had been so close.

Just after Shun had entered our group, she'd passed away. That had been a messed up day.

We were practicing by battling each other. It was a couple of days after we got Preyas back so Marucho was pumped, taking down Julie quickly. Even though Shun beat me, I could tell that he wasn't focusing. Right now, all of us had just finished our 'matches' and were sitting down. Alice seemed to realize it just after me, "Shun? What's wrong?" she asked. For some reason, after that battle with Komba, she seemed much closer to Shun.

I voiced in, "She's right. You seem out of it, dude."

"It's nothing. Just forget about it."

"Shun."

"Alice, if he doesn't want us to know, he won't tell us," Runo said, gently pulling her back. She still had a crush on hot-shot.

Kato walked into the room, "A call for Master Shun."

Shun brushed me off, saying, "Nothing. Just a bad feeling."

He walked in, and after a couple minutes, his voice could be heard, "What?" he said, quite loudly. Then slightly softer, "Yeah. Sure."

Dan walked in, curious, despite the yells of Runo and Julie not to. "What's up, hot-shot?" I asked.

He looked up, having just put the phone down. "That was the hospital."

Dan stared, "What?"

"Yeah. She… She woke up."

I was gaping at him, then excited, "Can I come?"

Shun rolled his eyes, "Yes."

After making something up, the two rushed to the hospital. They both walked into the room that held a woman with green-blue eyes and long black hair that rivaled Shun's. His mom. "Mom."

"Ah, Shun."

He sat down by her, and I grabbed a chair next to the other side. "What's up?" I asked happily.

Shiori Kazami gave a small laugh, "Of course. Dan, I'm fine. How about you?"

"Just fine."

"I can't believe you're awake, Mom."

Instead of answering, her eyes drifted to the heart monitor, then back to Shun and me. "Yeah. Neither can I."

Shun could pick out her small insecurities easily, "Mom?" he asked hesitantly.

Without responding, she grabbed his hand, "How's bakugan? And Skyress?"

"She's fine."

"Shun… Where's your Grandpa?"

"Oh, right. I'll go call him," and he left the room.

I was left alone with her, and she looked at me, "Dan."

"Yeah?"

"Look after him for me. Please?" she asked.

My eyes widened, "What? But you're awake."

She gave me a sad smile, coughed weakly. "Not for long."

Shun walked back in, to see me gaping at her, and looked at me oddly. "What's wrong, Dan?"

Shiori shook her head slightly, "Nothing, Shun," I answered.

Shun sat back down, "So, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," she put her hand up to his cheek, "Shun… please promise me something."

"What?"

"That you'll be fine."

His eyes turned harsher, "Why?"

"Do you promise?"

"Yes. But why?"

She laughed, "Oh, Shun. Smile a bit. For me?"

He smiled a bit, "Happy?" he asked.

"Yes. Thank you."

Her eyes closed, and her breathing slowed against the respirator. "Mom?" The beeping slowed down too. "Mom!" he jumped to his feet and let go of her hand. "Dan, get a doctor!" his voice was harsh and quick.

I rushed out to find her doctor, dragging him back in. Following him was the nurse from before, and she pushed them both out. Well, we both got Shun dragged out. Shun and I sat in the seats by the door. It was too thick to hear anything. But we both knew that they would try using the defibrillator. His grandpa had come in-between, but was thoroughly ignored.

The doctor walked out after a long while. Shun and I both jumped up. "Well?" Shun asked. His voice was pleading. The doctor shook his head, "I'm so sorry. She's gone."

He collapsed onto his knees on the spot. "Shun!" I crouched down to his level. Except for that one battle, I had never seen him lose it like that. He was crying. The nurse had been long gone, because she couldn't handle it. The doctor was talking to his grandpa, and that left Shun and I to leave.

As soon as we got back to Marucho's, he'd shut himself in his room. The entire group asked me questions, but I couldn't bring myself to answer. I just hoped they'd leave it alone, "Don't ask. He has his reasons."

I called my mom, only to hear more small cries across the phone. It was hard to believe that I was the rock.

The wind was blowing gently, messing my hair and moving Shun's ponytail around. We stood there. We both knew what the other was waiting for.

Soon enough, she finally appeared. She smiled her oh-so-familiar smile.

"It's been awhile."

Jazz makes another appearance! Ta-Da! *wind whooshes, tumbleweed*

Anyway, for all of the people who ARE reading this, and most importantly, for the readers of my other bakugan story, Unraveling the Wind and Blaze, the gravestone that Dan tripped over… Hmm… seems interesting…

See you tomorrow hopefully! R&R, please!